Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy Charter Public School

Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy Charter Public (District)

www.dlacps.org

Charter School 114 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

The Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy (HVDLA), often referred to as the Smith Leadership Academy, is a tuition-free public charter school located in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. Serving students in grades 6 through 8, the academy operates with a mission to develop the next generation of leaders by providing a rigorous, college-preparatory education. The school places a heavy emphasis on academic excellence, character development, and civic engagement, aiming to close the achievement gap for students in the urban Boston community.

The school’s pedagogical approach is rooted in the "Davis Way," which focuses on cultivating scholar-leaders through a structured and supportive environment. HVDLA integrates social-emotional learning with a challenging academic curriculum to ensure students are prepared for the demands of high school and beyond. By fostering a culture of high expectations and community collaboration, the academy seeks to empower its students to become proactive contributors to their local and global communities.

114

Total Students

16.8

Full-Time Teachers

6.8

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy Charter Public School
Demographic	Student Count
Hispanic	23
Black	88
Asian	1
Two or More	1
Pacific Islander	1

Black
88 (77.2 %)
Hispanic
23 (20.2 %)
Asian
1 (0.9 %)
Two or More
1 (0.9 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.9 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	N/A
Shared Time Status:	N/A
District:	Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy Charter Public (District)
Phone:	(617)474-7950
Website:	http://www.dlacps.org
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	114
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	16.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	6.8
NSLP Participation:¹	N/A
Qualified Free Lunch:	N/A
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	N/A

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 6 32

Grade 7 35

Grade 8 47